Ngannou KO’s Lins, Claims Heavyweight Crown
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- Francis Ngannou delivered a first‑round knockout of Philipe Lins with a left hook at 4:31 of the opening round at the Intuit Dome, co‑headlining Netflix and Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions debut.
- Francis Ngannou extended his eight‑fight winning streak, his first MMA bout in four years, after a two‑year boxing hiatus and a full‑year hiatus in 2025 while leaving the PFL.
- Francis Ngannou declared himself the best heavyweight, stating “Period. I’m the f---ing best, period.”
- Jon Jones attended the event, waved to Ngannou, and on the Netflix broadcast said he would like to exit his UFC contract, though a fight with Ngannou is contractually impossible.
- Jake Paul reiterated his interest in a future bout with Ngannou, noting that he had previously pursued a boxing match against him last year.
Why it matters: Ngannou’s eighth straight win, capped by a first‑round knockout, strengthens his negotiating leverage for future high‑pay fights, while Netflix and MVP reap viewership gains and the UFC loses a potential marquee matchup.
